Mission StatementThe Junior League of Richmond is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. The Junior League of Richmond reaches out to women of all races, religions and national origins who demonstrate an interest in, and commitment to, voluntarism.

MissionThe Junior League of Richmond is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. The Junior League of Richmond reaches out to women of all races, religions and national origins who demonstrate an interest in, and commitment to, voluntarism.

Impact

The Junior League of Richmond empowers, educates and enhances the quality of life for women, youth, and families, with an emphasis in the East End community, through effective programming and collaboration demonstrated by quality mentorship and family programs that build skills to reach educational goals, plan for the next phase of life and generates pride in the community.

Needs

All members of the Junior League of Richmond pay annual dues, which cover some of the administrative costs associated with preparing those members for their volunteer duties. The League also depends largely on individual donations and corporate contributions to facilitate much of their programmatic efforts. Programs that greatly benefit Richmond children, such as Kids in the Kitchen, Good Sports, Families First, and Touch a Truck, would not be possible without substantial private funding.

Background

The Junior League of Richmond is a 90 year-old organization, committed to positive change in the Richmond community, and built on the idea that this change is possible by developing the potential of women. As an organization with nearly 1,000 volunteer members from the Richmond area, the Junior League of Richmond has an extraordinary capacity to make a difference on the local level. In fiscal year 2017 alone, League members contributed over 25,000 hours of service. This organization strives to make Richmond a better place for its children and families today, and helps empower its members to become vehicles for change well into the future.

CEO Statement

In addition to meeting the needs of some of Richmond’s most underserved populations, the Junior League of Richmond is creating a network of knowledgeable, connected, and fully trained women, ready to take on the challenges of building a healthier community. Supporting the League is a great way to invest in the future strength of our wonderful city.

Board Chair Statement

The Junior League of Richmond seeks to improve our community through the effective action of our trained volunteers. We are committed to developing our own potential and the potential of others. We do this because we believe that our community is worth our time and our efforts.

We are currently working on initiatives to partner with other non-profits to make a bigger impact on the Richmond Community so not to duplicate our efforts. We continue to carry out our vision of nurturing the children and families of the East End community by continuing our programs like Families First, which offers parents and children the opportunity to participate in a night of information and to share a meal together, or Kids in the Kitchen, which teaches children how important healthy food and exercise is for them to do well in school by having a healthier lifestyle. Our most recent program is mentoring with Martin Luther Kind Middle School where we have worked with the Virginia Boys and Girls Club to help train our members.

We believe that we are specifically poised to enhance our community and our members' experience of carrying out our mission of promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women and improving our community.

Areas of Service

Areas Served

Area

Metro Richmond

The Junior League of Richmond includes members from the entire Richmond metro area. We serve all of Richmond with a primary focus impact area of Richmond's East End.

DescriptionKids in the Kitchen is an ongoing community initiative designed to empower youth to make healthy lifestyle choices and help reverse the growth of childhood obesity and its associated health issues. Kids in the Kitchen engages kids in the preparation of healthy meals and snacks in partnership with local community organizations, chefs, and nutritionists. Last year, over 200 area children participated in the program. The Junior League of Richmond also develops an annual Kids in the Kitchen cookbook.

Population ServedK-12 (5-19 years)

Budget$9,973.00

Long Term Success

Since its creation, over 1,000 children have participated in this program.

DescriptionGood Sports is designed to promote character development through athletics for elementary school-aged youth. Program participants will have the opportunity to learn and try a variety of sports while focusing on the six Pillars of Character as defined by the Character Counts! program: Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, and Citizenship. The Good Sports program takes place during multiple evening sessions throughout the school year and targets approximately 30 fourth and fifth grade boys and girls.

DescriptionLiteracy Through Art Outreach (LTAO) is an “out-of-school” enrichment program for elementary school children that features an interactive curriculum designed to highlight literacy and parental involvement. The goal of LTAO is to bring an enjoyment of reading to children and involve parents in being their child’s “first” teacher. The program benefits children and parents from lower income communities who do not have regular access to the resources that support future academic success.

DescriptionFamilies First is a program which promotes the stability and well-being of the children in the East End community of Richmond. Through this program, members of the Junior League of Richmond facilitate regular programs on a variety of topics, including parenting, self-esteem, health issues, practical life skills, and educational enrichment. Workshops are conducted by trained professionals and include a discussion component, as well as time for food and fellowship.

The Junior League of Richmond also hosts an array of public events that serve to enhance community while also generating funding for our ongoing volunteer work in the Richmond area. These programs include:

Book & Author Dinner - the oldest event of its kind, the Book & Author Dinner features a diverse panel of writers who discuss their new books with a Richmond audience of more than 1,000. Guest authors also make presentations in area schools.

Touch a Truck - A unique interactive one-day event which allows children to see, touch, and explore their favorite big trucks and vehicles and meet the personnel who protect, build, and serve the Richmond community.